Brake mechanism



F. A SHULEH. BRAKE mEcHAnnsm.

V FILEDYJULY 5,1921.

Mar., 20, 1923,

Patented Mar. Ztl, 1923.

NETE@ STATES FRANK A. SHULER, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

BRAKE IECHANISM.

Application filed July 5, 1921. Serial No. 482,426.

T 0 aZZ whom t may concern:

lBe it known that l, FRANK A.' SHULER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county ol Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Brake Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The brake mechanism of the present invention is designed for use on knuckle type axles for automotive vehicles and trailers. i The object of the invention is to so associate the brake mechanism with the pivotal mountings for the wheels that the braking effort may be applied regardless of the position assumed by the wheels in steering. With this end in view the brake actuating mechanism, or so much thereof as is involved in the imparting of the braking effect to the brake bands or the like, is mounted in coincident relationwith the pivotal axis for the wheel spindles, so that the latter may be swung Jc'reely as required ,in steering, without interfering with the mechanism involved in the braking operation.

Further objects will appear from a detailed description of the invention. which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

1n the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section ot the front wheel mounting for an automobile Fig, 2 is a view partly in sec-tion taken on the pivotal axis for the wheel and looking outwardly toward the interior of the drjim;

tion.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the axle center yoke, pivotal mounting and wheel spindle, with the hub and brake drum removed; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the fixed and actuating cam'elements in disassembled relation. .l

The brake mechanism of the present invention is primarily employed in connection with the front running gear of an automobile and is carried by a tixed'axle 10 provided in each end with a yoke 11 having upper and lower arms 12 and 13 respectively, which arms terminate -in upper and lower bosses 14 and 15 respectively, which is the usual practice in automobile construc- The bosses are vertically bored to rovide for the reception of upper and oWer bushings 16 and 17 respectively, which bushings are securely locked in the upper and lower bosses. The upper bushing 1G carries an enlarged head 18 the 'upper surface of the boss 14 and the head on its upper face is providedon each side with a substantially V-shaped notch 19., constituting cam surfaces for coaction with which overlies a pair of downwardly projecting wedgef shaped cams 20 formed on the' lower face of a head 21 which carries a lever arm 22 adapted to be oscillated in any suitable manner to operate the brake mechanism.

The exact configuration of the coacting cam surfaces is best illustrated in Fig. 4, which shows the cams separated to illus trate the contour of each. It will be noted that each of the 'l-shaped notches 19 affords an obliquely sloping surface 23, the plane of which maintains a spiral progression from the top to the bottom so that the width of the plane at any point, measured in a radial direction, is maintained equal. This spirality of contour is a resultant ot' obliquelyi cutting the surface of the shell in a constantly varying plane, the transverse projection of the plane at any point ybeing toward the vertical axis of the head.

rlhe head 2l, which vconstitutes the male member o't the couple, has a complementary contour 23"" to that of the female member,

the wedge shaped cam projections having a like spirality to that just described. When the parts are nested together the apex of each wedge projection will tt into the hollow of the complementary recess and a full contact of surface will be maintained throughout. When the male member is rotated, the apexes of the wedge shaped cams will ride up and away from the bases of the recesses, and though'tlie area of contact will be progressively reduced the coincidence of contacting surfaces will be maintainedv and an easy riding lit insured in every position of adjustment. y A

'The cam heads and bushings, from the nature of thel operations involved, must maintain a fixed relation with respectto the axle yoke, irrespective of the steering angle of the wheel mountings, save in so far as the actuating male cam head is turned or y 'adjusted in setting the brakes,.and for this 24 which passes through'the bushings and lllli through the cam heads which are alined therewith. lthe actuating male cam head is contacted by a brake operating sleeve which is slidably mounted upon the knuckle pin though maintaining non-rotative 'engagenient therewith through the medium ot' a ke'- fit which engages a vertical slot 2T cut in the inner wall ot the sleeve, which sleeve is adap/d to be moved up and down by Contact as the saine. is adjusted.

Vl`he sleeve is provided on each side with a hanger 2H (see Fig. 2), each ol' which hangers has pivoted thereto a toggle lilik 29 said links being respectively pivoted at their outer ends to a pair olt littings :lo secured to the brake band 3l tted to co-act with the interior of the drum 2&2, which latter ismounted on the hub 'l.

coiled spring^ Il-ll' connects the respective fittings and is adapted to be placed under tension as the ends of the brake band are spread in setting the brake against the drum, so that upon the release. ot' the brake actuating mechanisi'n the `tree ends ot the brake band will be drawn inwardly and the. brake released.

The lower end ot' the knuckle pin 2l carries an anchor which is slidably mounted upon the knuckle pin. the sides IE6 thereot' being tlattened to prevent any rotative displacement oll the anchor. 'The anchor riveted or otherwise secured to the brake band at its lower medial point and is normallv held in elevated relation on the knuckle pin through the medium ot a coil spring $7 which is interposed between the anchor and the nut fr? on the lower end oi the pin. The vnormal position ol" the anchor upon the pin can be adjusted by means ol' a set screw 39 and the lock nut -l0 which bear against the lower boss l5 ot the axle yoke. The knuckle pin is keyed or locked to the' knuckle L'llyby means ol'l a cross pin 42, so that these parts will rotate in unison about an axis w ch is coincident with the. center ol the. knuckle pin. The knuckle. l1 carril-i an outwardly projecting axle 43 upon which the wheel hub is mounted, the usual roller bearings 44- or'the like being provided to reduce iiction.

A stt-zei' arm 45 and a steering cross connection lo are provided, as is the universalpractice in an automobile ol like construction. l'

ln'opczation, with 'the parts in the posi- ;tionsindicated in the drawings the brake.

band. w,il-l and in released relation to the d`v d this relation will be maintained l" -f joint action ol the upper spring 3'? and i. ie lower spring il? which together serve to draw back the brake band and contract the same so thabfreedom `from contact will i be n'iainta'ined. I

lVlien the arm 22 is turned by the action o'lE the brake lever or pedal. the actuating cam head will ride up on the cam surfaces isl and will lit't the sleeve Q5, thereby spreading the. toggle links and expanding the brake band, which expansion will in part .serve to compress the lower spring 3T and thereby set the brake band evenly at all points against the drum. This action will be ell'ected independently ot' the. angular position ot' the wheels. since it will be obv served that the `t'emale cam membei` with its associated bushing is maintained lixedly within the uppermost yoke boss andthe male actuating cam head Awill be maintained against accidental rotation by the brake connections, the knuckle pin rotating freely within each of these members.. The eoacting ol the parts is thus maintained independently ot' the angular adjustment ot' the wheels, so that the brakes may be. properly lapplied at any time.

Although the parts have beenfdescribed with particularity and in a form which fully satisfies the requirements ot actual service, it is not the intention to limit the invention to precise details. since many ot' the latter' may be modified without departing trom the spirit'o'l theinvention.

l claim:

1. In a brake mechanism of the type described` in combination with a fixed axle. a pivoted knuckle and its associated axle with the wheel hub and drum rotatably mounted thereon. a vertical knuckle pin rigidly secured to the knuckle in coincicence withthe axis thereof, a l'ixed cam member through which the knuckle pin passes, an actuating cam member loosely mounted upon the vknuckle pin` a sleeve on the, knuckle pin adapted to be moved longitudinally there'ol" by the engagement ot' the movable cam meinber, and braking elements coacting with the drum and adapted 'to be actuated by moyements oi' the sleeve.v substantially as described.` f

ln a brake,.niechanism of theI type described, in combination with a tixed axle, a pivoted knuckle and its associated axle with the wheel hub and drum rotatably mounted thereon. a vertical lmmkle pin rigidly secured to the knuckle. in coincidence with the axis thereot.l a rigidly mounted 'fixed cam member through which the knuckle pin passes, an. actuating cam member loosely mounted upon the. knuckle pin` a sleeve on the knuckle pin adapted to be moved longitudinally thereotI by the engagement of the movable caln member, braking velements coacting with the drum and adapted to be ae* 'tuated by movements oll Athe. sleeve, an anchor slidably mounted on the lower end of the knuckle pin and connected with the braking elements, and upper and lower springs for releasing the brakingelements, substan' tially as described.

ln a brake. mechanism or' the type de! scribed, in combination with a fixed axle, a 130 rer-Liebes pivoted knuckle and its associated axle with the wheel' hub and drum rotatably mounted thereon, a vertically disposed knuckle pin rigidly secured to the knuckle and rotatable therewith, a rigidly mounted fixed cani member through which the pin passes, an actuating cam member coacting with the fixed cam member and freely embracing the pin, a sleeve engaging the fixed cam member and keyed to the pin and slidable thereon, a brake band split at a point adjacent to said sleeve, and toggle connections between the sleeve and the tree ends of the brake band', substantially as described.

4. ln a brake mechanism of the type dcscribed, in combination with a fixed axle, a

pivoted knuckle andl its associated axle with the wheel hub and drum rotatably mounted thereon, a vertically disposed knuckle pin rigidly secured to the knuckle and rotatable therewith, a rigidly mounted fixed cam member through which the pin passes, an' actu-- ating cam member coacting with the fixed cam member and freely embracing the pin, a sleeve engaging the actuating cam member and keyed to the pin and slidable thereon, a brake band split at a point adjacent to said sleeve, toggle connections between the sleeve and the free ends of the brake band, and an anchor slidably mounted upon the lower end of the knuckle pin and connected with 'the medial portion of the brake band, substantially as described.

5. In a brake mechanism of the type described, in combination with a fixed axle, a

ivoted knuckle and its associated axle with the wheel hub and drum rotatably mounted thereon, a vertically disposed knuckle pin rigidly secured to the knuckle and rotatable therewith, a fixed cam member through which the pin passes, an actuating cam member coacting with the fixedcam member and freely embracing the pin, a sleeve keyed to the pin and slidable thereon, a brake band split at a point adjacent to said sleeve, toggle connections between the sleeve and the tree ends ot the brake band, an anchor slidably mounted upon the lower end of the knuckle pin and connected with the medial portion of the brake band, an upper spring connecting the free ends of the brake band, and a lower spring bearing against the anchor and serving normally to litt the same upon the pin, the two springs acting to release the brake band from Contact with the drum, sub stantially described.

6. lin a brake mechanism of the type described, in combination with a fixed axle, a pivoted knuckle and its associated axle with the wheel hub and drum rotatably mounted thereon, a rigidly mounted lixed cam and an actuating cam`v the two cams having complementary spirally cut coacting faces for maintaining coincidence of contact in all positions of adjustment, a knuckle pin rigidly connected to and rotatable with the knuckle and occupying a position in coincidence witli the anis thereof, said pin being freely entered through said cams, braking mechanism associated with the drum, and connections between said braking mechanism and said cam mechanism for imparting brak ing actions occasioned by the adjustment of the actuating cam, substantially as described.

FRANK A. SHULER. 

